Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-02-25
letters to Mr.. Phelps too late to have the OBJ

Biohtiy Interested US, IS tue metropolitan o.
underground railways, running not only
beneath the houses, but below the gas pipes
and water mains, II Ia thoroughly lighted
ana altogether as comfortable as any other
railroad travelling '
We found our visit to Hampton Cour,
Palace very interesting. The pictures and
tapestries here arc well worth visit, as we'll
as the immense astronomical clock which
seems to Indicate everything which rca.
sonable being ought even TO want TO know.
The building itselfis still handsome, and
gives evidence Of the regal grandeur which
prevailed during the corrupt reign of Henry
VIII to whom 1t was presented by Cardl-
nal Wolsey. Oliver Cromwell also resided
here. There were many horrors here, too
connected with the history Of the unlortu.
nate wives of the Blue Beard Of England
most OF whom are immortalized in magniii.
cent stained glass windows, by order of their
aftectionate and bereaved husband Onegal-
lery Is devoted to tho paintings Of tho Ameri-
can artist, Benjamin West, who was liber.
ally patronizsd by George III. rerhaps al
pne pieces a tapestry asaretos be- ,Noa sny
where In Europe are 10 be seen al Hampton
Court Palace, representing eight scenes in
the life Of Abraham, supposed to have been
Flemish In design, made in Brussels three
hundred years ago. m
We visited, too, the Colonial and Indian
Exhibition, much after the order OF eur
great National Fairs, the arrangements siini-
lar to those of our recent exhibit at New
Orleans. Transit to this Is quick and pleas
ant ON the the underground railroad, which
has peculiar fascination for those OF us
who are accustomed 10 the dark tunnels of
our own country.
We attended service one sabbath at st.
Paul's Cathedral, descriptions oil which you
have doubtless often seen. II was designed,
as you know, by Sir Christopher Wren, who
could have no nebler monument, was thirty
i've years in building, yet under the super
intendence OF but one architect and Que
builder. This Is the place Of worship Of the
nobility and the scene OF many of the royal
marriages. In all these immense cathedrals
the feeling of devotion seems lost In the i'm.
mensity Of the buildings There may be u
large congregation, and yet they appear as u
mere handful, and tho reverberation OF the
footsteps on the stone floors, through the
arches and corridors, which seem 10 be al.
ways full of visitors, even during the service,
renders II often impossible to hear word
that is read or spoken. Even the singing,
which is always fine, sounds as in the dis.
lance, but the swelling Of the grand organ
Is magnificent and soul.thri.ling, rolling In
great waves OF harmony and penetrating to
the rom0test corner Of the superb structure.
l may have mentioned this before, it i'm.
pressed me everywhere In all cathedral ser.
vice Those accustomed TO worship thus.
probably would not be distracted by the
surroundings as strangers are, but in this
country such order and quiet prevail In
churches Of all denominations that we can
not fail TO notice the contrast. AT ST. Paul's
both Nelson and Wellington are buried, the
coffin Of the former said 10 have been made
Of the mainmast OF the ship LOrent, taken
at the battle OF the Nile.
1t would not do 10 take you away from
London without speaking OF the smoke and
fog, which are a part OF itand give dingy
appearance to all It's buildings. We saw
no bright, fresh, clean looking buildings ia
the city, they are grand and imposing, but
not attractive us In our own cities. We were
shown one large edillcc erected Of white
stone five years ago, which Is now as grey
as Parliament House, or Westminster Alb
hey. The former Is, OF course, an immense
structure with its clock tower and Victoria
tower, making very 1ne appearance from
the river Thames, upon which IL stands
We like our Capitol better however, in fact
we like most American things better We
seem TO have everything here that we found
in EngIand--even dudes Indeed we saw
very few Of thsse last in London; IL was
summer, and perhaps they are not allowed
TO run at large. What we saw of the spe.
cles were not nearly as "EHgllsh" as those
in our Northern cities, Though they know
better how to keep In place the one little
eyegass, anchored by black cord or rib.
bon. Just after landing, on our return, we
saw one Of these delicate beings tripping
along on his dainty little patent feathers
trying to oyertake "a tall, handsome girl in
tailor-made suit and high hat and II struck
us that the only appropriate way for him 10
accompany that stately girl was ut the other
end of little brass collar and chain but he
did not look at all "Eagish, you know
The dude does not prevail 10 any very great
extent with us in Washington, the climate
Is probably TOO warm, things Of that nature
are apt 10 melt.
Another peculiarly which we observed
ia the uniform costume among sisters. Two
grown'glrls In family are often dressed
exactly alike In every particular, as we
sometimes see twins. In one case, we saw
four girls, of various ages, all with dresses
Off the same piece. The climate is 50 yari-
able that II Is u common thing to see Il lady
In summer dress carrying n little fur cape
In her hand, and more than once We saw
white dress surmounted by d seal.skin coat.
The ladies generally do not dress as well in
England as here, there Is too much lace and
furselow for the street. We were told that
they consider outdoor costumea thing Of
minor Importance, giving their principal at
tention 10 dinner and evening toilets, in
which they excel, and many Of the shop
ping gowns" had the appearance Of recon.
structed dinner dresses. One thing con.
spicuous by It's absence, noe only In Great
Britain, but all over the Continent as far as
we went, Is the bureau or dressing case,
dressing tq5le being substituted. On this
table is little stand with mirror aud one
or two little drawers beneath, such as have
descondod 10 many Of us from our grand
mothers The table Is not generally draped
10 England, as in Ireland There are chests
OF drawers" and ample wardrobe room in
the place Of the bureau drawers. fanse dress
Ing tables arc usually placed lsUEt1f
window so that the light shiacs directly
upon the person, but the effect from the
street Is not desirable, as may BE- observed
in the British Embassage in Washington, II
locks as though it were "cleaning day"
But my letters will never be ended, Sue,
il prolong this account Of London. We
left Chester, bennington, &c, till our return
from the Continent, SO will not write OF
them till the proper time.
Everywhere VIC found English people
Pleasant aud afable, and willing 10 impart
needed Information 70 strangers, reports Of
many travellers 10 the contrary notwithstand-
ing. admit that we usually made the first
advance, but II was always cordially recip-
rscated, and In one or two instances, after
travelling together for some hours, we parted
almest Ike friends. IL does not do in this
wsrld 10 shut oneself up in shell, expect
ing every body 70 carry hammer with
which w break II, though II is very well b
have shell into which TO retreat when
necessary So, now, If the fishing question
is amicaoy settled, our verdict, altogether,
will DO favorable TO old England, though
must still agree with Edith, who told "a
young Englishman oh his way TO America,
that nc would fnd Americans English re-
yiscd and corrected, with all the modern
Improvements" A lady, sitting near, leaned
over and said III am very glad you made
that remark, am English myself, but have
lived thirty years in America, have just been
over 10 sec my relatives aud they have criti-
cised me from the arrangement Of my hair
10 my religious belief; they need to be taken
down by Americans" This need seems Of
ten supplied, as young Lord learned, who